"We the willing, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have done so much, with so little, for so long, we are now qualified to do anything, with nothing" By Konstantin Josef Jireček, a Czech historian, diplomat and slavist.

Archive for February 23, 2015

I just got an email from Peter Kuot Ngong, forwarding to me and all of you this pastoral epistle from our ‘Magi from the East’ of Kapoeta.

Having read the letter, I would not just copy and paste it without saying a thank-you intro to our Old Man of God.

My reader, this letter from our leader is not from Nya-Kuron ‘Culture-all Centre’, where a lawyer, who is a teetotaller, can be beaten to death with a broken bottle of beer for stepping on drunko’s toes at night. The letter is from Kuron Peace-cum-Culture Village, where even a toddler can step on a snake and would not be bitten to death even at daytime.

It is from Taposaland where a Paride Taban can be escorted cheerfully to his ‘wise house’ by cattle rustlers, not from Bariland (the political one) where an Alfred Taban can be escorted fearfully to…

Whether it is noble in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortunes,

Or to take arms against the sea of trouble S.Sudan,

And by opposing end them? To die, to sleep

No more and by a sleep to say we end the heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks

That flesh is heir to such consummation

Devoutly to wish would be, to die, to sleep,

To sleep; perchance to dream.hahahahaha! There is the rub,

For in the sleep of death what dreams may come when we have shuffled off Normality of this mortal coil.

Must give p pause; to get respect for all

For who would bear the whips and scorns of time

The oppressor is wrong, the proud man is contumely

The pangs of despised love, the laws delay

This insolence of office and spurn that patient merits of the unworthy take.

By Bush Akech Chol

Since the country falls into political pandemonium after the failed both genocide and coup, the international community did not take a reluctant phase to bring peace back to south Sudan. Many pens are emptied in inking unrespectable agreements of supremacy between the Sudanese’s people liberation movement SPLM/A and SPLM-IO.

The negotiators have to rethink why it took long for the parties to reach comprehensive peace agreements while the negotiation started one month after the conflict erupted. There are many reasons that peace failed to be achieved. These reasons have to be ratified and re-strategized by the inter-governmental authority on development (IGAD) and EAC bloc before the next sessions kick-off. Failure to do that would lead to square one at all means.

The first reason why parties spent almost 4 months on the arrangement of transitional government of national unity, powers of the president, proposed prime minister, and vice president is the manner in which the SPLM-IO aggressively pursues a set of terms to which the SPLM-IG must either walk away or declare a full scale war because the government views that a successful negotiation cannot be attained if one party pushes other in unrevised brinkmanship which the other negotiating party is unwilling to accommodate. It was when the government detects that the rebels are taking their competitive nature and can win up the price that they set a negotiation as a‘ project’ to force the rebels to re-evaluate their own opening offer or to move close to the resistance point, or else the waste time would not impact the Juba’s administration.

Secondly, the SPLM-IO present an issues of little or no importance to them to be important and traded for major concession of actual crucial in order to confuse the SPLM-IG on what to dwelt over as what they are overwhelmed by the negotiating party seemed chicken and bogey that requires defence in depth to avoid signing what is poorly comprehend. This demand sound “hard nut” to the SPLM-IG as it does not use the law of relativity to attract cooperation and continuation of the process at their expected course as government.

Thirdly, those political mites and military head-strong fellows in Juba felt hated when they calculate the impact of power sharing between the government, rebels and fox detainees. The piece-of-tips that they grant to their colleagues at negotiating table is to reach more disputable agreements within the framework of their hided law in juba. They view fighting as smart reason then ‘splitting the baby’ for the interest of one tribe against the whole nation forgetting that the peace is much paramount to many south Sudanese scattered over strange places.

Fourthly, Confused ventures of dead organisms position on contemporary situation is a claimed epitome of south Sudanese’s interests and needs which is just hyena agenda among the innate Hares. Why neutral and demands for share? The neutral are South Sudanese citizens who demand nothing than peace while the perpetrators of conflict are the ones demanding for power sharing and positions. A claimed neutral person is always a devil of rights, a gossiper of what does not favour his/her interests. A pretender of perfect and welfare of vulnerable dilemma citizens. The two warring parties could not reach deadlock because what so-called detainees acts as guide dog to SPLM-IO.

Fifthly, the Juba’s teams had been working day and night to ensure that the obstacles to peace agreements are presented clearly at the negotiating table to delay any go ahead so that a chief of staff and defense minister get a plenty of time in making adequate military preparations to launch more offensive attack against the SPLMA-IO not knowing that the SPLA-IO were able to practice the similar methods. The government ridicously expects that the rebels will confess the defeat and return to juba without power sharing which remain up to date as burecratic snafu aborted hope.

The author is a South Sudanese FP residing temporarily in Nairobi Kenya and can be reached at bushakech30@yahoo.com or fp50@yahoo.com

Thanks to a very generous philanthropic donation received from the Cultures of Resistance Network Foundation and the American Friends of SOAS (AFSOAS), a set of new postgraduate scholarships are now available at SOAS. That donation has been matched by an additional contribution from the SOAS Students’ Union to make up the Cultures of Resistance Scholarships at SOAS.

The scholarships will benefit people from countries that have been affected by wars and extreme poverty. This scholarship embodies the values of the Cultures of Resistance Network Foundation, which seeks to empower and enrich communities – especially those that have been affected by armed conflict – through the promotion of human rights, justice for victims of war crimes and the enrichment of civil society and robust grassroots democracy.

Security conditions permitting, scholars are expected to return to their home countries to apply their knowledge and skills for the betterment of their societies. In the case of refugees or those fearing repression and censorship in their home countries, we expect that they will seek employment/work/study abroad toward the aim of improving the future of their home country and that of its citizens. We hope that scholarship recipients will pursue careers that, among other things, promote universal human rights, international law, equal justice for all and the enrichment of civil society and robust grassroots democracy.

Two Cultures of Resistance Scholarships will be available in 2015/16. Each scholarship is valued at £15,000 in total. Fees will be deducted from this amount and the remainder will be used toward maintenance. In addition, each scholar will benefit from a 20% reduction in their tuition fees, from free accommodation at International Student House (ISH) and food vouchers to be spent in the ISH restaurant.

Eligible programmes

The following full-time programmes are eligible:

MSc Development Studies with special reference to Central Asia

MSc Globalisation and Development

MSc Migration, Mobility and Development

MSc Violence, Conflict and Development

MSc Development Economics

MSc Political Economy of Development

MA International and Comparative Legal Studies

MA Dispute and Conflict Resolution

MA Environmental Law and Sustainable Development

MA Human Rights Law

MA International Law

MA Law, Development and Globalisation

LLM Dispute and Conflict Resolution

LLM Environmental Law

LLM Human Rights, Conflict and Justice

LLM International Law

Part-time programmes are not eligible.

Candidate Criteria

Although priority will be given to students resident in Afghanistan, Burma/Myanmar, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Iraq, Kashmir, Kurdistan, the Palestinian Territories (West Bank and Gaza), Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tibet, Western Sahara, Yemen, West Papua and Papua, the scholarship programme is also open to students resident in the following countries/territories:

Candidates must hold (or be expected to obtain) a good honours degree, preferably first class, from a UK institution or overseas equivalent.

Candidates should describe in their personal statement of their admission application:

how the political situation in your home country, especially violent conflict, war, poverty, and/or military occupation, has shaped your experiences and ambitions in life.

how these experiences have affected your interest in human rights, social justice, and grassroots democracy.

what academic and social issues you plan to explore during your studies at SOAS.

what you hope to do upon completion of your program at SOAS.

what the most pressing problems are in your home country and how the pursuit of education at SOAS in your chosen field would promote human rights, social justice, equality, and the enrichment of civil society in your home country.

Candidates must have an offer of admission to pursue a full time eligible programme by the scholarship closing date.

Applicants must meet the English language condition of their offer of admission to study at SOAS as soon as possible but no later than 1 June 2015. If your offer is conditional on English, please arrange your English test and ensure you meet the English requirements as soon as possible.

Candidate Assessment

Candidates will be assessed on academic merit by an Advisory Panel, consisting of three academic members.

The assessment of your application will be based on the information provided in your scholarship application and in your on-line admission application for admission. Selectors will be looking at the degree results and also at academic references, statement and other relevant information.

On your intention to pursue careers that, among other things, promote universal human rights, international law, equal justice for all, and the enrichment of civil society and robust grassroots democracy.

Scholarship Application Deadline

Scholarship Applications must be received no later than 17:00 (UK local time) on 20 March 2015.

You must submit a complete online application to your programme as soon as possible and then submit an application for the scholarship. Applicants applying for scholarships must also submit an application for admission well in advance. Please note that complete applications for admission can take up to 4 weeks to be considered by the Department, although this duration can vary depending on the time of year. You should be prepared to wait up to 6 weeks in busy periods.

Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

Notifications of Results

Successful candidates will be notified by the end of July. If you have not heard from us by the end of July, you should assume that your application was unsuccessful.

Applicants must have an offer of admission to pursue one of the eligible programmes at SOAS by the scholarship application deadline. A complete application for admission includes transcripts, an explanation of the grading system for any degrees obtained outside of the UK, two references, CV and a personal statement. The panel will be considering your scholarship application TOGETHER with your on-line application for admission. Please note that complete applications for admission can take up to 4 weeks to be considered by the Department, although this duration can vary depending on the time of the year. You should be prepared to wait up to 6 weeks in busy periods.

Like this:

Gulyar, currently is a good town. And I think, it was a rural area before innocent people from Bor flee to it (Gulyar). I spent all day, walking around Gulyar town. I toured the camp area where a number of stranded Bor people were camped by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC). I took an opportunity to tour the market areas in this place.

There were two markets within Gulyar area. First market was located near the bay, and the second market was on Gulyar’s road to Juba and also Gulyar’s road to Yirolwut. Climate in Gulyar was humidity, sometimes it was very warmed during the day, and cool down during the night. But currently, many people from Bor’s areas are going back to their homes.

Many of them had felt sick of missing their beloved homes, and the environment they used to enjoy before they were abruptly displaced. By the terrorist who invaded their town for some months. They are going back, and I believed their leaving of Gulyar would have had an enormous impact on Gulyar’s people, and the environment. Gulyar had become semi – urban town, compare to how it was before these people fled their homes and camped in Gulyar.

On 26thof December 2014, my brother and I boarded a bus from Malek to Bor town. It was a continuous journey. So once we get off in Bor town we would take a boat there to Gulyar. We arrived successful into Bor town’s sand bay. Prior to that day, we missed a boat that was supposed to take us from Malek to Gulyar. It was unfortunate, on that day; we went to Panpandiar to visit our sister, and her children.

We arrived there, and the family was really busy cooking something for us, before we had to leave for Gulyar. We had sincerely insisted that, we were going to miss the boat; if we were going to wait for the food. But they kindly said we could not leave without tasting their food. We had accepted the offer as a sign of blessing to the family because we were uncles to her children.

Food was served and we ate and the food tasted delicious. After we had finished eating, we thanked the family for the meal. Then we took a boda boda to rush us to Malek to collect our belonging and to wait for taxi – (bus) to take us to Bor. We arrived into Malek, and we were so lucky to get on the last taxi to take us to Bor town.

That evening we arrived on the bay, before the last boat which was scheduled to leave at 5:30 pm to Gulyar. The boat sailed off the bay ten minutes after our arrival, we were settled very well on the boat. We were cruising on the White Nile’s waters, strong currents were beautiful. Cruising on the Nile was one of the greatest experiences I could always reflect on.

The smell of the water was just so fresh. Sightseeing number of birds swimming, sightseeing number of big fishes playing and diving in a distance was amazing. But the strong currents of the river waters made it difficult for us to spot the crocodiles and hippo. But I wasn’t interesting at all to see these creatures because they are dangerous, and the boat we were on it, was not river worth in my opinion.

Watching such creatures in the distance was the greatest adventure. The boat was sailing very close to the river bank, but not in the middle of the river. I didn’t know why? On the boat we were relaxing, and chatting to one another. The water was very white, but if you dip eyes into the water you could see that, the ratio of white sand and the water were equal.

Going Back to Bor Town

After I had spent two nights in Gulyar. I decided to go back to Bor Town and then to Malek.A small town I would usually spend my holiday whenever I am in South Sudan. On 28th December, I went to the river bank to wait for the boat to Bor Town. That evening I was escorted by my two brothers.They were living with their families and other relatives in a distance of an hour walk from/to the bay. We left home at 12:30 pm, and we arrived at the bay at 1:00 pm.

There was a boat that was supposed to leave for Bor Town at 12:30 pm. But unfortunately, the conductors didn’t had enough people travelling to Bor to fill the boat. So they were running around as if they were mad, stopping anyone they saw carrying a bag and interrogating him/her. If they were going to Bor, in an aggressive manner. I found it disrespectful to be interrupted in this manner especially when I am walking with someone and we are in the middle of conversation. It was pretty annoying to be stopped, suddenly by unexpected total stranger.

I was walking and talking at the same time with my brothers.When I was walking and looking down, and I heard a loud voice ‘are you going to Bor? I rose my head to see who was talking. Only a few footsteps ahead of me, I saw this huge fat man stood unfriendly in my way like a gate watchman. What jumped into my mind was that, had I in some ways done something wrong here or what? In that short time, I was covered in sweat.Then the question relieve my thoughts. Are you travelling to Bor? No! I replied. He walked away embarrassed.

Indeed, I was travelling to Bor, but I didn’t want him to bother us. Such aggressive tone in some areas in South Sudan was acceptable to be polite. According to my brothers opinions’ the man was very polite. Standing on the public road was just a normal behaviour like the government protocol.

So the conductors were still collecting people to fill the boat. In Gulyar, boats’ conductors don’t just collect people according to their wishes. They only collect people, if it was their turn to do so. All the boat had to queue up, and wait for their turn to come. Every boat had a timetable of taking people from Gulyar to Bor, and from Bor to Gulyar. So you had to know exactly what they would do once their turn had come.

Probably, they had two days in a week, or one day in a week to fill the boat. So this is what they do, they fill the boat with business goods and the people all together, until the side of the boat levelled the river water. When you are standing on the boat, you could even reach out your hands and touch the water. But, if the boat was at the dockyard and empty, you couldn’t reach out your hands to touch the water because it is a big boat size and large.

On that day I had waited for four hours, at the dockyard/bay. Waiting for more people to fill the boat. After that long waiting, we were called at last to climb into the boat. Due to the lack of seats on the boat.Boat fares were allowed to be pay once you are on the boat. Otherwise paying before you board the boat, was at individual’s risk.

Because they don’t issue receipts to the passengers whether you are on the boat or not on the boat. You give them your money, and you had to make sure that, they know your names. On this boat, there were three conductors, collecting money from the passengers. I couldn’t belief these people, they were shouting aggressively at the passengers who were struggling to get out their money in their wallets. They were behaving like people in the auction.

After they had finished shouting and collecting the money, they got off the boat. Then they tried to push the boat into the river, but they could not do it.Because the motor’s fan had stuck into the muddy clay soil. For that reason, the fan had failed to spin and pull the boat into the river. Consequently, they called for help, if some of the passengers could volunteer themselves to help them to push the boat into the river. Number of passengers and myself, climbed down the boat to help these greedy people push the boat into the river.

We were successful! Then we all climbed back into the boat, while the boat was strolling on the water. While we were on the boat, the captain of the boat tried to start the boat’s motor, but the motor could not start again. I was very close to him. I saw him trying to start the motor for good three rounds, but it didn’t start. Then it started in the fourth round.

That boat’s motor looked exactly like lawn mower’s motor, especially the way they operate it was exactly the way lawn mower’s motor works. For that motor to start, the captain had to roll a rope on top of the cylinder of the motor. Then, he pulled the rope with a force, so that the motor’s fan could spin. While the captain was struggling to start the motor, it was an opportunity for Nile’s strong currents to take the boat.

The boat was floating to a different direction. And at the same time, the boat was leaking.The water was running very quick inside the boat. This time it was unfortunate, noise erupted on the boat as if these passengers were in the distribution centre waiting to receive their ratios. Shouting and taunting remarks were irresistible on that boat.

Number of women were calling for a captain to do something about the water coming into the boat. They were very angry, but they didn’t know that, the captain could not do anything about the water because the motor wasn’t working. As saying goes it’s no use crying over spilt milk. Their aggressive behaviour didn’t stop there.Some of them burst into tears, speaking their minds. Men were sober, and they were referring these women to be cry-babies.

For some of the men it was a wagging movement, that they didn’t care whether the boat sink or not. Sob was very common to those women who think that they were strong. The temperature on the boat was hot as if we were in Darwin, Australia. The captain was reluctant, and careless when he realised that, passengers were misbehaving; and not helping the situation. He found him lonely, and needed a friend; he took out his cigarette and light it while he was still working on the motor. Luckily, there was a mechanic on board. He was ordered by the captain to deal with these angry passengers. Some of my mates and I were seated on the cabin of the boat.

This young boy, and I believe he was 15 years old, was the mechanic. He asked us to excuse, to give him a way, because our legs were blocking his way to the cabin box in order for him to go inside the cabin room to fix the problem. The water which had flooded the boat was coming through the cabin’s room. I saw him, he went down carrying a blue bar of soap to use in order to block the leaking holes. He spent about five minutes in the cabin’s room.

He came out at last, after he had finished what he was supposed to do. I couldn’t belie my eyes, the boy was covered in sweat as if he was a marathon runner. He looked confused, and his body was shivering as if he had arthritis. I looked at him, I saw him holding a piece of soap, and his hands were shaking as well. He couldn’t stood properly, his body wagged like a dog tail.

But this time, other areas on the boat were leaking again. While the boy was in agony position.Passengers started calling him, boy! Boy! Come over here and block the leakage. As I had mentioned earlier in some a few paragraphs that, the boat was full, but those idiots didn’t get it.There was no way through for that boy to leave where he was to where those people were strongly campaigning; that the water was flooding them.

In my position, I had different views, since the motor failed to start. First of all, my swimming experiences were in doubt. So I didn’t wish that, if the boat sank I wouldn’t had a problem with swimming. Second, there were many vulnerable people on the boat, women and children. Thirdly, I was not happy with the owners of the boat because they knew that their boat had a problem and was not river worthy and they deliberately failed to fix that problem because they only cared about the money. But if they did care about the safety of their passengers, then that boat did deserve to be sailed back to the bay, rather than risking number of innocent lives to cruise on a boat which was useless.

Fourth, I was worried that, if the boat was to go down like RMS Titanic, then we were unable to be rescued by anyone. The only rescuer that jumped into mind were crocodiles and snakes; they would be happy to rescue anyone if the boat went down. And I think they would definitely ask those individuals to show their visas for entering into their territory without a permission.

Otherwise any failure not to have a valid document to enter, then it would be treated as breaking the laws of the territory. And you would be locked up like those asylum seekers in NPG. But if you don’t have a visa, then bad luck and bad day.They would definitely without wasting no time break you into pieces and feed on your flesh to their young ones.

Such thoughts on my side were inside me; pressure built in me badly, the captain was hitting my back as if I was a punching bag.Every time he pulled the rope, and it failed to start the motor. But I didn’t complaint, because I knew that, he didn’t intended to hit me. I became stoicism. But when the passengers were idiots, shouting aggressively as if they were hornbill towards the boy demanding that he had to go and block the leaking areas.

I intervened aggressively, I told them, “why don’t we worry about the motor, rather than wailing and weeping for water?” I told the boy to give them that piece of soap, so that they would block those leaking areas by themselves, rather than bothering everyone on the boat, by making a disrespectful noise. The soap was passed to those who were complaining, and they did exactly what (kept quiet) I told them to do.

CONCLUSION

Then at last we were all happy, but unnecessary stopping and repairing of the boat were countless. Until then, we arrived safely into Bor town’s bay. You can watch my short clip video, which I took on that day.

Like this:

Addis Ababa – UK Special Envoy Matt Cannell delivered the following remarks today on behalf of the Troika at the opening of the latest round of negotiation

I deliver the following statement on behalf of the Troika (the United States, Norway and the United Kingdom).

On 1 February South Sudan’s leaders committed to complete negotiations on all outstanding issues, sign a peace agreement before 5 March and start a pre-transitional period by 1 April. They agreed to return to Addis on February 20 to for a final round of negotiations. We note with deep concern and regret that President Kiir has not honoured that commitment. It is time to conclude a peace agreement and bring an end to this needless war that is destroying South Sudan and imposing serious costs on its neighbours and the international community.

The people of South Sudan are yearning for peace, for an end to war and needless suffering. To date, South Sudan’s leaders have collectively failed to respond to the demands of their people. By continuing to fight, they are forcing 2 million South Sudanese to live as refugees or as IDPs and exposing millions more to serious food shortages. The country is facing an economic crisis. This is a far cry from the hopes and aspirations of the South Sudanese people at independence.

At this final round of talks we have one very simple and clear message – now is the time to compromise. We call on South Sudan’s leaders to demonstrate bold leadership and make the necessary compromises to agree the structure of the executive, executive succession, power sharing and transitional security arrangements – issues that have been highlighted by the parties’ own negotiating teams as being key to achieving peace and establishing a transitional government.

The time has come to say enough is enough. To support the people of South Sudan and the region’s mediation efforts, we expect the United Nations Security Council to consider a resolution on South Sudan this week, including the possibility of sanctions.

The Government has recently called to delay elections by two years to July 2017. But peace cannot be delayed and this should not detract from the formation of a transitional government of national unity by 9 July this year. Adhering to commitments made since last May to form a transitional government is the way to address the issue of government legitimacy beyond 9 July.

We strongly believe that the publication of the African Union’s Commission of Inquiry’s findings, and its recommendations on accountability, are necessary to ensure that such violence against civilians cannot be undertaken with impunity. The people of South Sudan, and in particular the families of the victims, deserve no less and it will in the long run enable greater accountability and give rise to more robust political stability. Accountability and reconciliation need to be addressed in any peace agreement.

To conclude, the Troika calls on South Sudan’s leaders to put personal ambition aside and demonstrate real leadership to secure peace for their people. The region, the international community and most importantly the people of South Sudan expect nothing less.

Like this:

The sun was reddening down at six O’clock on 11-7-7046 R.C.P. the crowd of dancers and spectators had been singing, murmuring and dispersing to different directions, it was the last day of the three day of elaborate celebration of Awak festival of Ariar shrine cattle camp. Awak is one of the solemn festival celebrations yearly in Akoi village.

At the opening ceremony, the youth of the same set of age or madding(madding as they were called to according to the last bull killed at their initiations ceremony) speared to death nearly four hundred and twenty cattle at the dawn of the spearing day.

The night was darkening in, the darkness was rising up every where from no where, closing the silver eyes of the silver day. The moon was crawling up. He was waving his hands. He was saying good bye to his children (the stars). He was leaving the East, his first wife house, where he had already spent fifteen days of light for West, his second wife’s house where he will have spent the next fifteen days.

It was rainy season, which has been always the happiest time, the happiest season of the year in Akoi village. It was a season of harvest, much food, plenty of milk, of which the living people wish their dead people would come back and ear meals and drink milk with them. Season of: – wrestling, wedding, sacrifice at holy shrines, initiation to adulthood, dancing where gentlemen come to choose young ladies as wives.

In the course of dancing, a girl was towered above the spectators and dancers. She was a girl ten times. She had seraph’s body exact her wings; seraph has her body except her breasts. Young men gnash their teeth when she passed. They almost urinated. If they see her dancing or walking, most people asked whose daughter she was. A man who would marry her would have married a wife a woman of admiration they commented.

No sooner had this charming girl taken the path to her home, than Madut Kuol ran after her that he could shake her hands. He started in a cultural way by chanting his colorful metaphors in your greatest songs to draw the attention of the girl first. However, the girl never paid any attention to him. He just continued walking feeling as though no one was chanting behind. Madut went to her and grabbed her hands.

“Why do I call you and not stopping?’

“Oooo okay, were you calling me?” the girl asked.

“Yes”

“I didn’t know that people are many girls”

“What is your name?”

“Do you know all these people’s names?’ the girl asked

“I don’t know but I want to know yours”

“My name is no name”

“Why are you fooling me?”

“I am not fooling; you’re the one who is fooling me. This is past; I can’t tell you my name. “It is our home, that’s when I will tell you my name” the girl argued. The girl told Madut that her home is near the sausage tree in the centre of Gieer village. From that point they made an appointment that they should meet after three days at the girl’s home. After three days Madut had returned. The girl didn’t show up nevertheless sent a small girl who had told Madut the person he was looking for was not around. The small girl made a second appointment for seven days. Seven days finished and Madut came but the girl herself came and postponed it with an excuse that there were guests at her home. Madut became annoyed and cursed the girl.

The girl doesn’t want to show her love for the man at first sight. She talked to him rudely. She was testing him whether the man really loved her or not. She knew that should she make the mistake of admitting him within a day, the man should abuse her in future that he won her love within a day and that she was a prostitute. The girl would like to show the man her love after four or five times and they met and talked to each other for a year of an engagement. She didn’t expose herself to men like a dog’s tail. She was always careful on the soil stepped on, and always careful on a word to say in public. She did not talk to men on the path. She was reared and protected from useless men by her cousins and brothers and she was proud of them. She knew that she was a precious stone worthy of a hundred cattle. She was an unbroken egg of rightful man who will be chosen by her family and lineage because of his family background and his behaviour and the cattle he has. She was to be given to the man and there would be a family banquet of wine, meat, dance and jubilation. She didn’t eat outside the hut like a disgrace or a bastard. She always woke up at cockcrow to homogenize the milk, fetch water from the well, swept the homestead compound, ground the grain, and pounded the maize. She mended the broken calabashes. She milked cows, cleaned the kraal floor and fetched firewood.

February23, 2015 (SSB) — We have the internally displaced persons living in the backyard of your houses in Juba, in the UN camp who are starving and lacking nutritious food and clean water. What I mean by back yard is that these people are living few kilo meters away from your office and your house.

–

They are not supposed to be starving. They are not supposed to be insecure in the middle of capital city- the seat of the president. They are not supposed to live away from their properties.

–

This is all because, the primary purpose of government is to save lives, protect properties, and preserve order. However, when government failed to perform these basics and ultimate goals, it automatically loses its legitimacy. We don’t want to see this and we don’t want this to happen.

–

So, first, if the primary purpose of government is to preserve order, then providing security to yourself, your citizens, including providing security to the IDPs is your sole responsibility, not the responsibility of the UN. Therefore, as government you should not stop visiting your starving people in the UN camp because of fears of insecurity.

–

Again, if you cannot provide security in the capitol city, how would you be able to preserve order in all parts of the country? Also, if you cannot provide order, how will these IDPs be able to come out from UN camp and return to their homes and properties?

–

A fear of insecurity is not a good reason for failing to visit and help your people in the back yard of your house and office. They are your people, they are your responsibility. Leaving them under the mercy of UN to breastfeed them is a problematic.

–

Secondly, if the primary purpose of the government is to protect properties, then you must be able to protect the houses and properties of these IPDs. If their properties are safe, then these IPDs are not supposed to live inside UN camp in the capital city. It’s a sham.

–

Government must have an urgent program to solve the unfolding problems of IDPs, by rehabilitating them, and preparing them to return to their homes and properties. They deserve to live and enjoy the benefits of citizenship like any other citizens. Depriving them from the benefits of security of persons, free and save movement, and owning properties, makes them refugees inside their mother land, hence become second class citizens.

–

Thirdly, if the primary purpose of government is to save lives, then the responsibility of protecting the lives of the IDPs rest solely on the shoulder of national government and the government of Central Equatoria. Where is the governor of the Central Equatoria, H.E. Clement Wani Konga? Are these IDPs living in the camps in Juba not under the jurisdiction and care of the state government? If the president can not at all visit these IDPs and help them, why not the governor of Central Equatoria?

–

However, leaving these citizens under the mercy of UN alone is problematic. It means government has failed to its job. I don’t like that. Therefore, I am appealing to you that you take care of these IPDs. You should be able to visit these IPDs from time to time and go and have a meal with them in the camp to show them and the world that you care for your people. If you have a good will, and I believe you have, you should give up one meal per a day and offer it to the needy in your back yard.

–

Again, Where is the governor of central equatorial, Clement Wani Konga? Are these IPDs not under your jurisdiction and your care? Why did you failed to visit them and provide them with food and water? I heard that the minister of information Micheal Makui Lueth has threatened to close down UN office and Radio Miraya FM. That is OK, but if you cannot feed these IPDs, and you want to close down the UN, who will feed these people and save their lives?

–

What minister Michael Makuei did last time when he tried to visit the IDPs in UN camp in Greater Upper Nile was wrong. You cannot enter the UN compound with a bunch of soldiers and guns. My intentions for this petition are very pure. UN should not operate as a government inside another government of sovereign state.

–

But, in order to protect our sovereignty and dignity, and prevent outsiders to interfere with our internal affairs, we must always stand our ground, by doing what government is supposed to be doing, and by respecting and promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms.

–

Log live Republic of South Sudan.

Long-live President Kiir Mayerdit.

Long-live vice president Clement Wangi Iga

Long-live SPLM/A

–

The opinion expressed here is solely the view of the writer. The veracity of any claim made are the responsibility of the author, not PaanLuel Wël: South Sudanese Bloggers (SSB) website. If you want to submit an opinion article or news analysis, please email it to paanluel2011@gmail.com. SSB do reserve the right to edit material before publication. Please include your full name, email address and the country you are writing from.